I am sitting here in the quiet house, recovering after a busy weekend with house guests, a long-distance soccer game, and cooking many big meals to serve a crowd! It was another week without much time for blogging - I used my limited writing time to work on an essay - but as always, we all made time for reading:
- I finished The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata, a middle-grade novel about a young girl spending the summer with her Japanese grandparents, harvesting wheat in the heartland. Although it's set in the U.S., I counted it for the Travel the World in Books Challenge since it is partly about a different culture. It was a wonderful book, filled with warmth and humor!
- This week is Banned Book Week, so I chose my next couple of books from the ALA'a Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books 2000 - 2009. First, I re-read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, a classic novel that is always among the most frequently banned books. I hadn't read it since I was 16 and really didn't remember much about it. I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read and really loved the novel! I can see what it's endured for so long.
- I was intrigued that #2 on the ALA's most frequently banned list was the Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, so I figured I should try it and start with the first Alice book that was published, The Agony of Alice (1985). I just started it last night, but Alice is only twelve in this book, so I'm not sure this is one of the ones that was banned! We'll see - if I have time, I may try one of the later books when she's a teen also.
- I have been listening to The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor, a teen/YA novel by the author of Waiting for Normal, which I loved. I think I am near the end, and it has been excellent so far - a gripping story of a teen girl trying to find her identity amidst conflicting pressures.
- My husband, Ken, is reading Reaper's Run: A Plague Wars novel by David VanDyke and Ryan King. He says it's a twist on the typical apocalyptic series - here, the plague actually heals people. He was perusing the Banned Books List last night for ideas on what to read next, getting into the spirit of the celebration!
- Jamie, 20, read The Maze Runner by James Dashner last week and then went to see the new movie with his friends on Saturday night. He said both the book and movie were good. He hasn't chosen his next book yet.
Only one post last week:
Review of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, a compelling novel not to be missed!
What are you and your family reading this week?
What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Unleashing Readers.
Banned Book Week sounds like a lot of fun. I'm going to check your link to ALA. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteMore fun posts on Banned Book Week to come later this week, Pat! Hope you enjoy it!
DeleteI am glad to hear your son's approval of The Maze Runner movie. I've been worried it won't be as good as the book. I am also glad you enjoyed Catcher on your reread. Many people don't enjoy it as much as adults, so it is nice to see others who still continue to like it. I feel like I am constantly justifying that book to adults!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny because I bet that teens don't entirely get the novel! I think you can only truly appreciate its depth and brilliance as an adult - that his grief underlies all of his thoughts and actions, the significance of the title, etc. I just found it packed so much emotional depth into a short novel that just covers a few days - and so much insight into grief in general and teens in particular. As you can see, now that I've read it, I am dying to discuss it! lol
DeleteSue
im glad to hear about your son liking the movie, im dying to see it, but im afraid it wont do the book justice
ReplyDeleteHere's is my Monday!
The Thing about Luck sounds like an interesting companion to A Diamond in the Desert.
ReplyDeleteLisa
LisaTeachR'sClassroom
Banned Book Week seems to have taken me by surprise this year but I am enjoying reading about everyone else's books! Have a wonderful week and enjoy the quiet! :)
ReplyDeleteSo much goodness in this post.
ReplyDeleteI've read Kira, Kira by Kadohata and really enjoyed it, so I am intrigued by this one. I love Catcher in the Rye! One of the classics I actually enjoyed.
I am not sure why the Alice series is always challenged--you'll have to let us know.
I'm happy to hear that the Maze Runner movie was good. I enjoyed the first two books in the series.
Happy reading this week! :)
I think I need to pick up the Alice series, as well. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteMy week: http://www.alwaysreiding.com/manic-monday-09222014/